What’s New in OS X 10.9.1: Gmail Fix, Updated Safari

17 December 20133,427 viewsNo Comment

Even before OS X 10.9’s October 22 release, it was rumored that Apple was internally testing Mavericks updates. Now, after about two months and a string of developer betas, we get something a bit closer to a finished product, OS X 10.9.1.

If Net Applications is correct, then 32 percent of Mac users are running OS X Mavericks. Alternately, if GoSquared has the right data, then Mavericks adoption hovers somewhere in the neighborhood 20, plus or minus five points at any given hour.

Regardless, OS X Mavericks is Apple’s most successful desktop operating system release. This first Mavericks update is ambitious, though not complete:

• OS X 10.9.1 (download)
— Improved support for Gmail in OS X Mail, and fixes for users with custom Gmail settings
— Improves the reliability of Smart Mailboxes and search in Mail
— Fixes an issue that prevented contact groups from working properly in Mail
— Resolves an issue that prevented VoiceOver from speaking sentences that contain emoji
— Fixes an issue that prevented iLife and iWork apps from updating on non-English systems
— Addresses an issue that may cause multiple prompts to unlock “Local items” keychain
— Addresses an issue that may cause Japanese keyboards to retain a previously used language
— When available, security content will available here

• Safari 7.0.1, included in OS X 10.9.1 Update
— Fixes an issue that could cause Safari to become unresponsive when filling out forms on fedex.com, stubhub.com, and other websites
— Improves Credit Card Autofill compatibility with websites
— Improves VoiceOver compatibility with facebook.com
— Updates Shared Links periodically when open in the Safari Sidebar

The last OS X 10.9.1 developer seed was build 13B40 while the publicly released build is 13B43.

Mavericks Updates: Next?

While OS X 10.9.1 resolves a number of documented issues, a number of other problems, including Core Audio and graphics problems, remain unaddressed. For what it’s worth, Apple has been internally testing OS X 10.9.2 for some time already.

It is rumored that OS X 10.9.2 will address any remaining issues with Mavericks — fingers crossed — and introduce some new features, including iMessage blocking and FaceTime audio calling.

Satisfied with OS X 10.9.1 or are there issues you hope OS X 10.9.2 will address?